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Holistic Care: 4 Seasons Veterinary Practice

Holistic Veterinary care looks at the whole animal when making a diagnosis and devising a treatment plan. Holistic treatments aim to bring the whole animal back to health, and not just treat one condition.

Two of the treatments we use are Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.

How does Acupuncture work?

Acupuncture has effects on the transmission of pain signals to the spinal cord giving segmental pain relief; pain relief that is aimed at one area.
It also stimulates the release of natural pain relieving chemicals in the brain giving a more generalised, overall effect.
Directly needling painful ‘trigger points’ can release knotted muscles, and in similar ways, needling the surface of the body can enhance the function of internal organs by altering nerve transmissions.

How do Herbal Medicines work?

The choice of herbal medicine is based on both the traditional uses and modern scientific research into plants. Herbs contain a huge array of complex chemicals; active ingredients, those that increase the activity of the main chemical, and those that reduce side effects.
Many modern drugs are based on herbs, (aspirin for instance), but isolating the active ingredient, one of the modern scientific methods, can make it more toxic or less effective than using the whole herb. Holistic herbal medicine uses the whole herb where appropriate.

What other therapies do you offer?

We offer advice on feeding both healthy and sick pets and cater for those owners who want to feed a home-made raw or cooked diet as well as those who need an off the shelf solution. Physical therapies including massage, active and passive exercises may be suggested for owners to do at home to enhance our treatments. We can also advise on how changes to your pets environment and activity can have a positive impact on their health.

Bad behaviour?

An understanding of behaviour is essential to solving many pet health problems so many consultations include behavioural advice. Vicky is now a COAPE Behaviourist and Trainer and also takes referrals where behaviour is the primary complaint.

We don’t use homeopathic remedies

Homeopathic remedies contain no detectable active chemicals and despite anecdotal successes there is little scientific data to support their use. We do not prescribe homeopathic remedies.

Please don’t DIY your pet’s health

Herbal Medicine from chemists and pet shops.
Herbal medicines are not regulated in the same way as ordinary medicines. Few suppliers have any quality control so it is hard to know what you are buying. Self diagnosis, low quality herbs and over cautious dosage recommendations often lead to poor results.By visiting a Veterinary Herbalist you will get a proper diagnosis, a personalised herbal formula for your pet and the highest quality herbs.